ONE of the borough’s four MPs, Theresa May, has indicated that she will not stand in the Conservative party’s leadership election.
The Maidenhead MP, whose constituency includes Twyford, Hurst, Sonning, Wargrave and Rusocombe, served as Prime Minster between 2016 and 2019, taking over from David Cameron, before giving way to Boris Johnson, who is thought to be standing again.
Also standing is former University of Reading students union president Penny Mordaunt, who is the current leader of the House of Commons.
Asked this morning (Saturday) if she would stand to be Prime Minister, said: “I’ve been there, done that.”
She added: “The party needs to compromise. It needs to ensure we can provide sensible and competent government for the country at this very critical time.
“It’s time for the party to move on and forward.”
She was speaking after opening a new shop set up by Hurst chocolates company Chocolates for Chocoholics.
A long-term customer, she wished them well with the new venture.
Yesterday, Reading West MP Alok Sharma came out in favour of Mr Johnson, who is currently under investigation by the parliamentary standards committee over the Partygate affair and whether he mislead Parliament over it.
Wokingham MP Sir John Redwood has not declared a favoured candidate yet, but has previously expressed concerns over Rishi Sunak.
In a blog post yesterday, he wrote: “The members should look for someone with Conservative views and reject the idea that we want a so- called grown-up who will do everything the establishment and the international institutions tell them.”
Bracknell MP, James Sunderland, has yet to declare which candidate he would support.
For more on the opening of the Chocolates for Chocoholics store, see Thursday’s print edition of Wokingham Today
